What it seems to be
A makeshift solution.
What it really is
Few expressions describe Italians better than ci arrangiamo.
It is almost impossible to translate.
It does not simply mean “we’ll find a solution”.
Nor does it merely mean “we’ll improvise”.
It means something deeper.
Whatever the problem is, we will not stand still waiting for it to solve itself.
In Italy, arrangiarsi is almost a skill.
It is the ability to adapt when the original plan does not work.
A part is missing?
Ci arrangiamo.
The courier is late?
Ci arrangiamo.
It rains during an outdoor event?
Ci arrangiamo.
Anyone who grows up in Italy hears this expression from childhood.
And without realising it, learns that perfection is desirable.
But a solution is compulsory.
This mentality has produced some of the qualities Italians are most appreciated for around the world.
Creativity.
The ability to improvise.
Problem solving.
The ability to get results even with limited resources.
But it has a less charming side too.
Sometimes arrangiarsi means accepting temporary solutions that become permanent.
Or convincing yourself that, if something works “well enough”, it is not worth fixing properly.
As so often happens in Italy, the same characteristic can be a strength or a weakness.
It depends on how it is used.
Scene
— Manca quel componente.
— E adesso?
Silence.
— Ci arrangiamo.
Two hours later, the problem is solved.
Nobody has done exactly what the procedure prescribed.
The key to understanding it
For Italians, arrangiarsi does not mean giving up on the plan. It means refusing to give up on the result.